"Oh this is a very nice ship. Good ship, good." Dantos says as he boards the ship and pats the rail as if the ship could hear him.

Caldrin lingers a moment at the base of the gangway, eyes lifting to take in the ship’s lines, the masts vanishing into morning haze, the quiet hum of ropes and canvas catching the wind. The golden motes from his Dancing Lights swirl lazily overhead, briefly illuminating the name etched into the hull—Fervent Tide.

“A fitting name,” he murmurs to no one in particular, “though fervor has a way of running aground if left unchecked.”

He places one ink-stained hand on the rail and ascends, each step deliberate, letting the rhythm of the wood beneath his boots settle into memory. At the top, he glances back to watch his lights wink out one by one as they fade into the dawn.

On deck, he inclines his head slightly toward Captain Bradshaw.

“Caldrin Vex,” he offers simply, staff lightly tapping the planks as if to test their strength. “Scholar, illusionist… and for now, passenger. You have our thanks for the tide-road, as my prickly companion so aptly put it.”

He sweeps his gaze along the deck, noting the bustle of crew and the careful lashing of cargo before adding dryly, “A fine ship. And already better company than some libraries I’ve worked in.”

With that, he settles against the rail near Dantos, one hand idly tracing a sigil in the mist that clings to the wood, and waits for the rest of the party to finish boarding.

Damay starts looking around the ship, "So where will be be staying? I look forward to setting sail." Why would they be will to pay strangers decent pay to do something that a captin and its crew are willing to do? Damay is pondering g the Captins words as he looks around aimlessly. 

"You'll be rooming with the crew. Only had the extra room for Kerowyn here, hope you all don't mind. Anyway, I'll let you all check out the ship, I have go go up to the helm, we're about set off soon."

Dantos takes a place on the rail, trying to stay out of the way while watching the crew work and enjoying the feel of the wind and the waves.

Khazela dips another curt nod to Captain Bradshaw—“Tide’s favour, Captain”—then slips beside Dantos at the rail. Eyes wide, she tracks every hauled line and billowing canvas, whiskers twitching at the slap of waves against the hull.

“First sea-road for me,” she mutters, voice low so only Dantos hears. “So many ropes… sails like cave-skins catching wind.” She taps the rail with a claw, feeling the deck sway beneath. “In earth I burrow; in water—do you know how to burrow, friend? Or do ships dig paths for us?” Her ears angle toward the creak of rigging, equal parts wary and fascinated by this new kind of tunnel.

Caldrin Vex - Owl and Observation

Caldrin steps to the rail opposite Khazela and Dantos, the last wisps of his Dancing Lights fading into the brightening morning as he lifts a hand and lets the spell dissolve. The golden motes wink out one by one, leaving only the pale light of dawn glinting off the sea.

He watches the deckhands scurry, eyes following the rising sails and the sway of the rigging above. After a quiet moment, he gives a faint, approving nod, almost to himself.

“Steady craft,” he murmurs. “Sails like cave-skins catching wind… yes, I can see that.”

Then he closes his eyes briefly and murmurs a quiet word under his breath, fingers tracing an arcane gesture in the salt-tinged air. A few heartbeats later, a soft rustle of wings announces the arrival of a snowy owl, which glides silently down from wherever it was waiting and alights on his outstretched arm. The bird tilts its head, blinking at him with pale golden eyes.

“You know your roost,” Caldrin says to it gently, though his gaze is still on the rigging above. “Someplace high and quiet. Out of the way of their lines, but where you can keep watch.”

With a soft hoot, the owl takes off again, circling once before disappearing into the maze of spars and ropes overhead. Caldrin watches until it settles on a crossbeam high above the deck, safely away from the crew but with a commanding view of the horizon.

Satisfied, he rests both hands atop his staff and leans against the rail, his voice carrying just loud enough for those nearby to hear.

“Well then… no burrowing here. This path is cut not into earth or stone, but into air and water both. A road the ship makes with its own strength.” He glances briefly to Khazela, a faint glimmer of wry humor in his eye. “Though if you do manage to dig through waves, do let me know. I’d dearly love to see it.”

Angus rubs the rough amber fur under his chin as he analyses the ship with a grin. He's been on many ships in his time, and this is definitely on the finer end of that spectrum, though he always enjoys his time at sea regardless, whether it be on a rowboat or galleon. The only metric he truly judges a vessel by is whether or not it can actually float, and glancing across the keel, he sees no cannonball holes, so that's a tick in his book!

On board, he settles in nicely, happy to be amongst the crew, though realises that they're likely the ones that will be charting out this journey, and he'll have to live with just sitting back. The crew has likely done such a journey many times before and would likely need no assistance from the likes of him, but his fingers still itch to have a compass in his grasp and a map spread beneath him. If the crew ever calls for any help with everything, he'll be the first to jump up and volunteer, that's for sure. He wonders if there will be any music on the journey; he likes nothing better than a good shanty, though perhaps the seriousness of the voyage would suggest against it.

After a bit of preparation, the ship departs. Leaving Waterdeep's bay the ship takes a slow turn to the right, coasting along the Sword Coast until it reaches Neverwinter. And when a shout is given at the crow's nest, the crew eases down and goes about the ship, either doing their daily chores or playing to pass the time. Captain Bradshaw leaves the helm to his first mate as he heads into his quarters. Madam Hucrele seats herself on the deck, reading a book.

(In case anyone wish to speak with the NPCs, feel free to. Otherwise will progress the story to Neverwinter, provided there is no complications on the sea.)

Caldrin remains at the rail as Waterdeep’s spires recede into the morning haze, watching the coastline slip by with a detached, almost clinical interest. When the ship settles into its steady rhythm and the crew’s activity gives way to routine, he finally straightens and moves away from the edge of the deck.

Selecting a quiet spot near the aft where the shadows of the sails provide a little shade, he unshoulders his pack and sits cross-legged on the planks. With deliberate care, he draws his spellbook from its leather case, the faint scent of parchment and ink rising from the worn pages as he lays it open across his knees.

He takes a moment to adjust his spectacles before retrieving a quill, a small inkwell, and a roll of blank parchment. For a time, his only movements are the scratch of pen against page, the faint motions of his fingers as he rehearses sigils in the air, and the occasional low murmur of arcane syllables under his breath.

From time to time, his pale grey eyes lift to glance at the owl still perched high in the rigging, as if checking that it, too, is keeping watch. Then, satisfied, he returns to his work—lost to the quiet comfort of study amid the gentle sway of the sea and the creak of timbers beneath him.

Damay will try and try and interview as many of the crew as he can about the lore of the sunken tower they were heading to trying to get any more myths and info about what to expect. He would also request an audience with the captin about the same thing, expecally since he seemed willing to go in after his kin. 

Dantos glances up and sees Caldrin settle. He moves closer to quietly observe, and respectfully does not interrupt the mage. 

Looking at Kazela, "I think the ship it burrows through te waters and te sails are like claws that grab the wind, you know?"

(Sorry, had to do a a few all nighters for work. Got too tired to update my campaigns during that time.)

Most of the crew give little response, besides, "If the Captain is going, then I'll go." . Most of the crew explain that they've joined from another harbor or were with the captain during his expeditions at sea. The captain welcomes Damay into his quarters, offering a shot of rum. "So, from what my crew's been talking about, you're curious why my sister in law doesn't want me to lead my crew down to that ravine, right? Well from my sister's view, my company took a hit from the erupting volcano. Set ablaze of good number of our warehouses and ships...Don't need to add how many people we lost. And seeing how I don't actually have any children, maybe, if I die the company would probably be prey to the others."

"...But I'll be damned if stay on the side, waiting to hear if my brother's kids are okay. I wasn't there for his passing, I won't dishonor him by not taking action. So how about this, you help convince her that me and my crew would be enough. Once we're back, I can take you all back to Waterdeep, free of charge."

Damay considers what the captin has proposed about trying to convince his sister that the ships crew would suffice,  and he believes they probably would be.  But that woukd remove their potential gold for a free ships passage. "That may be a hard sell now that we are all aboard this ship and makes us look incompetent. I agree with your assessment that you and your crew would be sufficient but clearly the lady has reasons to be willing to offer the reward over sending in more family." He sets his ledger down and looks at the captin. "We will do our best, I assure you, and knowing you and your crew are available as backup will make the goal of finding your nephews more likely to ne achieved."

"Look, even you agree. I can try to convince her with you. And don't worry about not getting paid, there's a lot of opportunities in Neverwinter right now. You all can either take one of the jobs around the city or just take it easy while me and my crew are away. You all can stay at the crewman quarters we have at the docks while in the city, not the best but free of charge during your time there."

(He's pushing for him and his crew to go instead. You may leave and speak with the rest of the party about it if you wish.)

"Ai no, we are hired and paid for to do dis thing yes? You sail ships and eh we do the hunting and finding you know?"

Dantos has concerns about losing this job. He didn't jump on this ship to travel around just to not do the thing he said he was going to do. There is honor at stake.

Angus would rather venture into the citadel with just the party so that there's less people to be harmed, but then again, that's what the captain wants to, so it seems either one of the parties will have to back down, or they're venturing in together. Either way, he wants to support the captain and his crew if they're adamant about being the ones to take up this challenge, so says 'There's strength in numbers. We've came all this way and if harm were to come to you, we'd feel awful knowing that we could have been there to prevent that. I'm sure you'd feel the same way. Therefore, if we go together, at least we've got the best and strongest chances of saving your nephews. Besides, for me at least, it isn't about the coin. I'd rather venture into that citadel for nothing then make money in Waterdeep whilst you and your crew is in jeopardy.'

Khazela’s quills bristle in quiet emphasis as she steps beside Angus, dark eyes fixed on the captain.
“Promise given—fang-debt,” she says, voice low and flinty. “We said we hunt, we guide. Debt not broken by coin or by waiting on dock.” She taps two claws against her breastbone, then toward the captain. “Your blood, your crew—welcome. We walk shadow road together, or you pass us in front, we guard flanks. But we do not stand aside.”

A brief nod seals her stance: family ties deserve respect, yet the oath she made to Kerowyn binds her just as tightly.

"As you see dear captain, had we known all of this prior to speaking to your sister, perhaps we coukd have convinced her, but alas here we are, invested and committed. I'm sorry my friend but we come too far not to see our part through. And perhaps she is more correct about perspectives then we realize." Damay didn't see the team being willing to turn around so simply so no point in toying with the idea.

Mygra watches and listens to the captain try to pursuade the team. … wonder whatnhes motives are (insight 16)